Ahh, Friday is here. As I get older I’ve noticed my mind is not as sharp as it use to be. I keep forgetting where I put things…like my cell phone. Of course, losing my phone isn’t so bad during the week but a tragedy on the weekend. Lucky for me, I found it where I left it, in my car! Found this list and thought it fit my theme today!

The Top 25 “Most Forgotten” things in life, research carried out by National-Lottery.co.uk:

From the “Irony” file: Drivers of hybrid cars not only drive more, but also they get more traffic tickets than drivers of conventional cars, according to a study by Quality Planning. The data on 359,309 vehicles, gleaned from insurance company records in 2007 and 2008, show that while hybrid owners can save on gas, they eat up those savings by driving more for pleasure. Although their commutes are about the same as owners of conventional cars, hybrid owners log up to 25% more mileage on non-work travel — an average of 10,500 miles over and above their commuting mileage.

Age is just a number, but there is a certain age that science says is the best of your life. The best age to be is 46. It’s considered the gateway to a golden age when you have everything you want, such as a loving spouse, a beautiful home, a great career and wonderful children. Why? The late 40s also marks the time when people have acquired the most stuff, such as household gadgets and valued personal possessions. And that’s because they have the most money. The average wealth for this age group is 40% higher than that of 20-year-olds and 35% higher than those in their 70s, who have retired and are living on savings. The bottom line, we spend nearly $26,000 every five years on things we keep in our home.

Probably the most famous phone number in the world is from a Tommy Tutone Song. Now you too can own pop culture’s that is bound to impress all. The phone number — 867-5309. The business number, with the Philadelphia area code 267, is being auctioned off on eBay. Already the bidding is over $5,000! Hurry, the auction ends 8/4/09. Click here to place your bid!

Here we are, starting another month and remembering that with all we have to do in the next few weeks (school starts), there is a war going on. Today, Gainesville took time to honor and thank one of our own for his service to our country. Saturday, while many of us were grilling out by the pool, hittignthe stores for back-to-school shopping and enjoying a hot summer day, Marine Donald Vincent of Gainesville died in Afghanistan. Pfc. Vincent joined the Marine Corps in January 2008, he was an assaultman with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. He was promoted to Pfc. and deployed to Afghanistan in May 2009. He died Saturday, 27 July, while supporting combat operations. You hear of our soldiers dying in war, but this one hit home. I thank Mr and Mrs Vincent for giving our community, our nation, such a wonderful son. I can speak for a greatful community that we sincerely mourn your loss. I can say you are not alone in your grief.

Take time our today and say a prayer for Pfc. Vincent and the safe and swift return home of all our troops.

Remember you heard it here first! Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut has created a new chocolate bar that has 90% fewer calories and is fat free! The only downside is it doesn’t melt as easily as regular chocolate. Called Vulcano — for some reason — Callebaut hopes to sell the formula to Cadbury’s and Nestle and to mass produce within two years. Finally, some news I can use!

Being a child of the 80’s, 2009 has been a difficult year so far. First, we lose Farrach Fawcett, then Micahel Jackson. Last night I learn the heartbreaking news that film director John Hughes died of a heart attack. John Hughes was just as much part of my life as the moon walk, new coke, parachutte pants and Spuds MacKenzie. The movies, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, ‘The Breakfast Club’, Sixteen Candles’, ‘Weird Science’, ‘Pretty in Pink’, ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’ and many more are as comforting to me as eating a grill cheese sandwich on a cold, rainy winter afternoon. In fact, there isn’t a weekend that goes by without a John Hughes movie playing on AMC, FX, USA or TBS.

Join me in remembering John Hughes as I quote from the movie ‘Weird Science’, when then-not-so-well-known actor Bill Paxon gives a memoriable line. As big brother Chet runs into druken Garry and Wyatt, he offers them his own version of big brother support, “How ’bout a nice,greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray”.

R.I.P. John Hughes and thanks for the memories.

And now, for no particular reason, a monkey washes a cat.

Guaranteed to put a smile on your face

OK, when is the best time to ask the boss for a raise? According to some psychiatrists there’s a good and a bad time to ask for a raise, because your boss has a weekly cycle of moods.

• Take Monday to ask for a vacation. Having just enjoyed his or her weekend, your boss will be in a better mood to grant you some time off.
• Tuesday is the day for bad news. Break it gently. Tuesday gives your boss the rest of the week you clean up your mess.
• The day to ask for a raise? Wednesdays. This survey says managers told them they felt most charitable on Wednesdays than any other… you’ll get lots of “yes” answers on this day.
• Thursday is the day to present your boss with your ideas… they’re more open minded.
• Friday is the day to ask for favors… it’s after all Friday, and bosses are looking forward to the weekend too!

Two alert KTK correspondents captured these images this morning and sent them to us

Suborbital test to aid Mars reentry system design

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility launched a major sounding rocket test of an inflatable ballutet planetary reentry system this morning just before 7 AM.